2. "The truth is only the truth. I cannot change it if I would." Bertrande is the only character in this novel who demonstrates any integrity. Discuss.
Janet Lewis', 'The Wife of Martin Guerre' paints a picture of life as it was in the 16th century in Artigues, a small village in France. While the rest of France was moving towards the Renaissance , "Artigues enjoyed its isolation and its lack of fame," and maintained its strong feudal values. In this society the cap d' hostal was the ruler of the household and his views and decisions became the households'. The women of the house were the child bearers and the servants to the men and were not permitted to voice any opinions of their own. Bertrande, challenging this tradition, dared to accuse her husband of being an imposter, showing her honesty and morals to rule above the happiness she may have had in living a lie.
Chris Martin
March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, Martin L...
Title page of Arrest Memorable, an account of the ...Other members of the Guerre household would have her live in sin, but her integrity in the end is too great and she pursues the truth, ending in her own destruction.
The people of Artigues were extremely religious in their beliefs and it set a foundation for them to make moral decisions in their own lives. Bertrande was also extremely religious and this was the basis of her decision to accuse her husband as being an imposter. When Martin comes back after eight years she immediately notices that he is different and has doubts that it is he, but Pierre and Martin's sisters rejoice in his presence and she thinks she must be mistaken, a consequence of being away from Martin for too long, "I have almost forgotten your face!".
As time passes Bertrande comes to realize other differences, more...